Following the Bitis pet trade: a practice-based exploration across Africa and Europe

In this article, I investigate the trade dynamics of Bitis, a genus of African vipers, within the exotic pet market, with a particular focus on trade flows between South Africa and Europe. The conservation status of the 18 recognised Bitis species ranges from Least Concern to Endangered, with official assessments primarily attributing threats to environmental destruction. Employing Nicolini’s “zooming-in, zooming-out” method, I trace the practice of trading Bitis through netnography, in-depth interviews, and field visits to examine the socio-ecological dimensions of this semi-regulated trade. This article presents the findings of this multi-sited research. I outline the mechanics of the trade, which, despite being largely legal, often involves grey and illegal activities due to regulatory ambiguity and inconsistency. The underlying value structures driving the trade include the ornamental appeal of Bitis, along with secondary motivations such as its behavioural traits, sentimental value, and perceived rarity. I show how these value-making practices co-produce the socio-ecological conditions under which Bitis are collected, bred, and traded, and how these conditions can undermine or enable attempts to regulate the trade.